Konoha’s Emerging Phenomenon

As the afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows over the village of Konoha, Principal Kamiko stepped into the office of the Third Hokage. Standing with her was Sakumo Hatake.

"I hope you don't mind, Lord Hokage, I thought Sakumo's presence would help our discussion," she said, her voice steady and clear.

Hiruzen looked up with a slight raise of his brows. Though surprised, his face soon softened into a welcoming smile. "Of course, Kamiko. It is always wise to have varied perspectives. Sakumo, it's a pleasure to have you join us," he responded.

Once seated, the trio delved into the core of their meeting. Hiruzen passed a couple neatly organized dossiers to them to look through, containing detailed reports and all known evaluations of the young prodigy named Kaizen.

The documents were filled with charts, scores, and teacher comments, outlining his academic prowess and practical skills within the Ninja Academy. It also contained all known information about him from the orphanage.

Hiruzen began informing the two of them about his findings.

"Earlier this week, Hiroshi Senju, the teacher for Class 1-A, gave his report on the class. He specifically made sure to mention Kaizen and his incredible performances. The level of talent mentioned was sufficient enough for me to look into his background and acquire all the known information about him and compile it into a document. I also had some people go question his caretakers at the orphanage as well."

"He was found at the steps to the orphanage when he was just a newborn. Some tests confirmed he was born on the same day he was found at the orphanage making his birthday December 31. DNA tests were conducted, but they didn't match anyone from our medical registry. Due to the suspicious nature of his appearance at the orphanage, several more thorough tests were run on him to determine if there was anything abnormal about him."

At the mention of tests being conducted, Principal Kamiko raised an eyebrow at Hiruzen to which he began to justify their reasoning.

"Although it might seem over the top for a baby, it is important to note that he was born while the Second Shinobi World War was still ongoing. An unknown child being delivered to the orphanage at such a time would logically spark concern and suspicions."

"However, despite all the tests conducted, the baby was found to be completely normal with no known lineage associated with him. His DNA was even cross referenced on our more restricted database which contained DNA of shinobi and civilians from other nations and villages collected via missions or battles."

"In the end, he was found to be a completely normal human boy. With every possibility explored, he was given to the orphanage to raise. They gave him the name Kaizen and believed that he might be adopted at some point as he grew older to acquire a surname. Although, it seems the caretakers were not expecting him to be talented enough to get accepted in the ninja academy at such a young age. They did mention that he was very athletic, kind, smart, and studious, but they weren't aware that he was as talented as we've come to learn."

Sakumo, flipping through the pages while he listened, raised his eyebrows in visible astonishment.

"These performances are remarkable," he said, scanning the quantitative data and narrative assessments that painted a picture of a student performing far beyond his peers.

"Especially for someone so young. His practical scores are nearly unprecedented. From what I can see here, Kakashi's scores beat his during a few of the physical portions of the entrance exam. So, that means he was either holding back, or he has been improving exponentially. Given the rest of the context, I would lean towards the latter which is…" Sakumo trailed off.

Kamiko nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting a mix of pride and serious contemplation. "Indeed, Kaizen has shown an exceptional grasp of both theoretical knowledge and combat skills thus far. His progress has been profound, raising both opportunities and challenges for his future training," she explained.

Hiruzen rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on a comment about Kaizen's leadership during a team exercise. "His rapid development might set a new precedent. It's not just about managing a gifted ninja but guiding him to grow in a way that benefits all of Konoha," he mused aloud, the responsibility of his position clear in his contemplative demeanor.

It might seem a bit much to look so far into the talent of a single student after a week of performance within the academy, but the accumulated experience between Hiruzen and Kamiko led them to take the context into account. Even someone like Sakumo, who was nearing his mid-30s could grasp the significance of Kaizen's achievements within such a short amount of time.

That is if you are only taking into account the current information Hiruzen has available. He still is unaware of Kamiko's meeting with Kaizen as well as Sakumo's spar with Kaizen.

When students with incredible potential like Sakumo, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Dan Kato, Fugaku, Kushina, or Minato are discovered, it is important to take proper measures to ensure they are guided properly.

Despite the saddening loss of Dan during the war, he and the others have proven to be massive assets to Konoha. Regarding Minato, even though he is only 15 years old at this moment, his talent and potential are unquestioned. Kushina need not be questioned either considering she is now the host of the nine tails.

"Before we move on, I wanted to provide some new information about a meeting I had with Kaizen earlier this week. It was initially about the fight he had with the older students, but it was also a way for me to understand his thoughts and intentions."

"During our meeting, Kaizen demonstrated an exceptional level of insight and maturity. He provided a detailed analysis of the confrontation, breaking down each movement and decision with remarkable clarity. His ability to assess and react to threats is far beyond what it should be at his age."

"I even posed to him the question revolving around the king in shogi. Much to my surprise, he identified the children of the village as the 'king,' demonstrating his understanding of the deeper responsibilities of a shinobi of Konoha and the Will of Fire."

Hiruzen's eyes twinkled with approval. "That is indeed a profound answer, one that reflects a deep understanding of our village's core values."

Kamiko nodded. "It was an answer that surprised me, even given his previous performances. His intelligence, combined with his drive and leadership qualities, marks him as a unique talent. I believe his future development must be guided with great care."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That is quite the commendation. What did he generally end up saying about the fight with the older students?"

Kamiko recounted Kaizen's explanation. "Essentially, he said that he attempted to resolve the situation peacefully, but then it quickly escalated. His focus at first was on incapacitating rather than harming. Only when they pulled out weapons and attempted ninjutsu did he begin using violent moves aimed at ending the encounter as quickly as possible. Like I mentioned, his actual explanations were much more detailed on the encounter, but they lined up with what Hiroshi reported."

Sakumo leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. He was deep in thought as he considered what Kamiko said carefully. "And when did you say this incident occurred again?"

Adopting a puzzled expression at Sakumo's seriousness and reasoning for asking, but she still replied, "The incident occurred on the first day of class, last Monday."

Hearing this, Sakumo's eyes widened in shock and perhaps a bit of horror as well. Seeing the seemingly perpetually stoic Sakumo adopt such an expression was confusing to both Hiruzen and Kamiko who had both known Sakumo for the majority of his life up to this point.

'If the incident happened last Monday, then that means Kaizen not only learned how to enhance his muscles with chakra in a week, but he learned it to such a degree that he could spar with me using it as well? Wait…wait a second. That kunai he threw at me after the barrage of shuriken was much faster than his current physique would be capable of. Then, when he landed the kicks on my knee and temple, the speed of his movements were not uniform, as if he selectively applied chakra to the specific muscles required for the movements he wished to perform…'

"What's wrong?"

"Is there a problem with something Sakumo?"

Hiruzen and Kamiko asked respectively.

"Please allow me a moment. I am just connecting some dots about an encounter I had with Kaizen yesterday. You will both naturally understand why I reacted in such a way once we get to the information I have to offer." Sakumo answered respectfully.

Nodding, they both gave Sakumo a few moments to think.

'If my conclusions are correct, then I still underestimated Kaizen's potential. Enhancing muscles with chakra is usually something learned after a shinobi becomes a chunin with the rare exception of genin learning how to do it. However, when they learn the skill, it is through the enhancement of all muscles uniformly throughout their body.'

Sakumo rubbed his chin as he looked down continuing to consider the possibilities. Both Hiruzen and Kamiko shared a look, wondering what got Sakumo to be in such a state. Hiruzen just shrugged, continuing to smoke his pipe and Kamiko read back through the dossier that Hiruzen provided.

'Learning it still requires a more advanced application of chakra control, but it is also considered to be the standardized approach for most shinobi. Trying to enhance specific muscles not only requires a much higher level of chakra control, but also a detailed knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. Otherwise, significant injuries can occur if these requirements are not met.'

'Enhancing the entire body uniformly doesn't require a fraction of the academic knowledge or nearly the same level of chakra control. However, one of the major downsides to the standardized method is the increased chakra drain by comparison.'

'Due to the higher requirements for the more specified approach, anyone who is capable of learning it usually takes several years and is either at least a medical-nin or a tokubetsu jonin. There are some older elite chunin who manage to learn it, but that's after a decade or more of experience after becoming chunin. Even the top geniuses that learn this method are at least chunin when they learn it, much less being able to apply it effectively in combat. I myself learned the standardized approach as a genin and the specified method after I became a chunin.'

'I can't believe this is even a possibility, but it seems to be the most likely scenario at this point. Kaizen at four years old, managed to not only learn, but perfectly apply an incredibly advanced application of chakra control during combat against me within a week…'

'Given what we know about him, he hasn't chosen to hide anything which means he most likely didn't have the knowledge or at least the ability to apply the enhancement of chakra to his muscles against the older students. If he could, then he would've been able to easily incapacitate them without such injuries.'

Looking back up at Hiruzen and Kamiko, Sakumo thought, 'I wonder what expression these two will have once they come to the same conclusion.'

There was of course another possibility that Sakumo didn't consider which would be that Kaizen intentionally wanted to find a reason to injure the older students. However, given Kaizen's friendliness, leadership, genuine nature, 'incredible acting,' and strong Will of Fire, Sakumo didn't think that a four-year-old Kaizen would have any malicious intentions towards Konoha or its people. Thus, this was the conclusion he made, and it also happened to be the correct one. Kaizen truly didn't know how to enhance his muscles with chakra during that encounter.

Regaining his composure, Sakumo said, "Alright, I am ready to continue. I apologize for causing any concern. As I mentioned, once we get to the information I have to offer, you will naturally understand my reaction."

The discussion then shifted towards the implications of Kaizen's talent at a young age, with each participant weighing in from their unique perspectives—Hiruzen from the standpoint of village security and future, Kamiko from educational and developmental angles, and Sakumo from the sharp end of ninja operations and warfare.

Eventually, the conversation naturally segued into Sakumo's personal observations of Kaizen. Leaning forward, his expression serious yet filled with a rare hint of excitement, Sakumo began to share his recent decision regarding the young ninja.

"I have recently offered Kaizen the opportunity to become my personal student," Sakumo announced, his voice carrying a blend of pride and solemnity. "He accepted."

Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly at this revelation. Sakumo was known throughout Konoha for his discerning nature and exceptionally high standards. "That is indeed surprising, Sakumo," Hiruzen responded, his tone mixed with admiration and curiosity.

"You've never taken on a student. What did you see in him that prompted this decision?"

Sakumo paused, reflecting on the moment he made his decision. "It was a combination of factors such as his character as well as the spar against me yesterday," he explained.

"Kaizen displayed not only exceptional skill but an innate understanding of combat seen from only the most seasoned of shinobi."

Kamiko, always keen to understand the nuances of such dynamics, leaned in, her interest piqued. "Could you elaborate on that spar? What specifically about his performance struck you?"

Sakumo nodded, clearing his throat slightly as he prepared to dive into the specifics. "The spar involved my son and Kaizen against me. I restricted my speed and strength and only used taijutsu, intending to offer them a sense of fairness, comparing technique against technique. I also told them to come at me with the intent to kill so that I could understand their skills, mindsets, and combat effectiveness. It was intended as a routine exercise, but it quickly became apparent that Kaizen was in a league of his own."

He continued, his voice laced with a mix of respect and disbelief. "The match started with me observing the two of them and countering for a while until I felt I understood their strengths and weaknesses. My son was then quickly knocked out of the spar, leaving just Kaizen and I left," Sakumo said, his eyes narrowing as he recalled every moment.

He began to detail the match from memory letting Hiruzen and Kamiko imagine it in vivid detail. They listened intently, each registering the significance of Sakumo's words.

"His understanding of movement and technique is exceptional. Even with the physical disparity, his strategy and adaptability nearly bridged that gap. The way he utilized his surroundings and the limited resources he had, like the shuriken and kunai, was not just effective; it was ingenious."

The atmosphere in the room shifted as Sakumo reached the crux of his observations. "While I consciously held back in certain areas, it was clear that Kaizen's technical skill in taijutsu surpasses mine. He completely caught me off guard towards the latter half of the spar through the utilization of chakra to enhance his muscles. My earlier reaction was due to figuring out that he also used chakra to enhance specific muscles during some of his attacks. Overall, if the conditions were perfectly equal in that spar—same physique, speed, strength, and reflexes—I am convinced he could have killed me."

Hiruzen, mid-drag on his pipe, choked on the smoke as he processed Sakumo's admission. The smoke billowed around him, a visual echo of his surprise. "DO FUCKING WHAT?" he yelled, the shock evident in his voice.

Principal Kamiko was no less astonished with her mind blanking at the statement made by Sakumo. Her eyes widened, a rare loss of her usual controlled demeanor.

"That's...," she murmured, her mind racing with the ramifications of such a revelation.

Both Hiruzen and Kamiko understood what it meant to even receive praise from Sakumo, much less what he just admitted. Not to mention, they instantly understood why Sakumo had such a bizarre reaction earlier. It was truly too monstrous to think about.

Sakumo nodded solemnly, his expression serious. "Everything we've discussed is precisely why I believe Kaizen is not just a prodigy. He is a phenomenon. His ability to predict and strategize, to turn apparent disadvantages into tactical advantages, it's almost like he's playing a game of shogi, always several moves ahead."

The room fell silent as the weight of Sakumo's words settled over the occupants. Hiruzen leaned back, puffing thoughtfully on his pipe, while Kamiko's face was etched with contemplation.

Kamiko and Hiruzen exchanged glances, their thoughts mirrored in each other's eyes: Kaizen was not just a gifted student; he was a potential master of his craft, a mind that could one day shape the very fabric of ninja tactics and warfare.

The profound revelations about Kaizen prompted a strategic pivot in the conversation. Hiruzen, his elder statesman demeanor returning, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This changes everything. Kaizen's capabilities, if nurtured correctly, could redefine much of our village's future," he noted, the gears of his mind visibly turning as he considered the implications.

Principal Kamiko nodded in agreement, her keen mind already mapping out possible educational trajectories. "It's essential we craft a path that challenges him without overwhelming him or pushing him towards darker inclinations. His training must be meticulous, encompassing not just physical prowess but also ethical grounding and mental resilience."

She then gave a strict look to Hiruzen, "That means he must have absolutely no contact with Danzo. I understand you believe his actions to be in the village's best interest, but this point should be non-negotiable, don't you agree?"

Hiruzen completely agreed, not minding her look. She was his elder in age and also earned the respect of all the higher ups within the village. She has been guiding the younger generations through the academy for decades. If she wanted to speak up for anyone, there would be no arguments.

"I will ensure that Danzo is kept away from Kaizen for the foreseeable future." Hiruzen replied.

Sakumo, listening intently, added, "I intend to guide Kaizen personally, not only in the arts of combat but in understanding the deeper responsibilities that come with such power. He will learn to use his skills for the good of Konoha. Although, given what I know about him so far, I think that it won't be too much of an issue to accomplish that."

Hiruzen appreciated the thoughtfulness behind Sakumo's words. "Indeed, the balance of power he could wield is immense. We must ensure his growth is balanced with a strong moral compass. It's not just about making him a powerful ninja but a wise one."

They discussed specific training regimens, potential mentors in various ninja arts, and the psychological support Kaizen would need to handle the burden of his talents. "We'll need to monitor his progress closely," Kamiko suggested. "Regular assessments, not just of his skills but of his psychological well-being, will be crucial."

Hiruzen agreed, noting, "His unique abilities might set him apart from his peers, which can be isolating. We must ensure he remains connected to his fellow students and the village, to foster a sense of belonging."

To this point, Sakumo mentioned the conversation he had with Kaizen after the spar. Kaizen truly sees the village as his family and is very grateful for the position he is in as well as the things he has been given. Sakumo also mentioned Kaizen's motivations behind his drive to become stronger.

Hearing this, Kamiko and Hiruzen felt even more reaffirmed in their decisions to wholeheartedly support Kaizen's growth, feeling extremely hopeful for the future of Konoha.

As the strategic session drew to a close, the trio outlined a preliminary plan, integrating advanced training modules with regular evaluations and a support system that included not only teachers but also peers.

Just as moonlight began to bathe the Hokage's office, the meeting drew to a close. Each leader understood the weight of the decisions made that day.

"We'll proceed with our plan. I will also send some anbu to begin spreading rumors along with confirmations of you taking on your first and only student. Even without me doing so, it will soon be widely known that Kaizen has become your student. At least with this, we can control how people perceive him," Hiruzen concluded, his voice imbued with a mixture of resolve and anticipation.

"Kaizen's journey is ours as well. We guide him, and in turn, perhaps he will redefine what it means to be a shinobi."

Sakumo nodded, a determined gleam in his eye.

Kamiko smiled slightly, her mind already on the next steps. "And I'll arrange for the necessary resources from the Academy. He won't lack for support or challenges."

As the meeting ended, each participant carried away a sense of gravity and purpose. They were not just shaping a young ninja's future but potentially the future of Konoha itself.

In the quiet that followed their departure, Hiruzen lingered at his window, gazing out over the village. He pondered the coming days with a sense of foreboding and excitement. Training a ninja like Kaizen always felt like taming a storm—fraught with peril but filled with potential.

Kamiko, on her way back to the academy, felt a spark of exhilaration. Nurturing a mind like Kaizen's would be a rare challenge, one that might even elevate the standards of their training programs.

And Sakumo, walking through the village's bustling streets, considered the path ahead. It was uncharted territory for him, but he was ready. He smiled gently as he thought of his son and the rivalry he would share with Kaizen going forward.